An ambitious Stepson wants to be the deputy in the Washington Mission
- Thursday, 12 December 2013
It is no secret that the foreign service of Sri Lanka is now experiencing the worst ever crisis in its history . The most senior career diplomats in the country are now engaged in a row for several higher posts getting vacant while the destiny of the service once considered to be for the most erudite, is left at the discretion of couple of corrupted political cronies of the Rajapaksa regime. The tip of the iceberg of the disaster that has been looming for some time, came to light after the media reported the transfer of Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya from the U.S.A to Canada.
Though the removal of ambassador Wickramasuriya, a cousin of President Rajapaksa was in the menu of the career diplomats for many years , they were almost taken by surprise to learn that Thanuja Usliyanage , a stepson of President’s secretary is trying to grab the post of Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington. According to the ministry sources, MP Sajin Vass Gunawardana , the controversial de-facto foreign minister of Sri Lanka has ordered the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to refrain from making any nomination for the post as President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga is to discuss the matter with the President.Lalith Weeratunga has no biological children and is still legally married to Dr. Uma Weeratunga .
The posts of Deputy Chief of Missions in Washington and London are the only two deputy posts in the Sri Lankan Foreign Service manned by ambassador rank diplomats. As the Heads of Mission for these two countries are usually held by political appointees, the post of Deputy Chief of Mission is being given to a senior career diplomat of that ambassador rank. Esala Weerakoon , the son of former presidential advisor Bradmon Weerakoon was the Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington until August this year . He was the ambassador to Japan before taking over the post.
According to the authoritative sources, Thanuja Geethanjana Usliyanage was the elder son of Mrs. Sugathadasa , partner of Mr. Lalith Weeratunga. He was educated in Mahanama College Colombo up to G.C.E Ordinary Level and came as a high school student to the United States . Following his college education , Usliyanage wandered through many jobs including as an IT technician until he lost his visa status and became an illegal migrant in the U.S.A . He managed to get Mr. Weertaunga’s assistance through his mother’s influence to secure the post of political consular post at the Sri Lanka Embassy Washington in 2011. In 2012 , Mr. Weeratunga’s political influence earned him the promotion to the post of Political Minister of the Embassy , the highest rank a career diplomat can earn before becoming an ambassador. Usliyanage is known to be the only Sri Lankan illegal migrant in the U.S.A to become diplomat.
According to the authoritative sources, Thanuja Geethanjana Usliyanage was the elder son of Mrs. Sugathadasa , partner of Mr. Lalith Weeratunga. He was educated in Mahanama College Colombo up to G.C.E Ordinary Level and came as a high school student to the United States . Following his college education , Usliyanage wandered through many jobs including as an IT technician until he lost his visa status and became an illegal migrant in the U.S.A . He managed to get Mr. Weertaunga’s assistance through his mother’s influence to secure the post of political consular post at the Sri Lanka Embassy Washington in 2011. In 2012 , Mr. Weeratunga’s political influence earned him the promotion to the post of Political Minister of the Embassy , the highest rank a career diplomat can earn before becoming an ambassador. Usliyanage is known to be the only Sri Lankan illegal migrant in the U.S.A to become diplomat.
Sources further say that the Washington Embassy has to hire an American national as a congressional relations officer due to Usliyanage’s incapacity to perform his job. However , he has managed to build a close relationship with MP Sajin Vass Gunawardana by assisting him with escort services during his visits to the United States.
Political observers believe that the current crisis in Foreign Service is simply an indicator of a deep-rooted decadence the whole governance system. They say that though nepotism has worked for President Rajapaksa specially during the conflict , his habit of promoting corrupted individuals to senior government positions has been proving extremely counterproductive for him and the country .
